Pole system.



J. LEDWINKAJ POLE SYSTEM.

APPLICATION NLRB 001. 27, 1909.

1,069,887, Patented Aug. 12, 1913.

2 sums-sum 1.

J. LEDWINKA.

POLE SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 27, 1909.

1,669,871 Patented Aug. 12, 1913.

2 SKEBTS-SHEET 2.

UNTTED srarns PATENT @FFTCE.

JOSEPH LEDWINKA, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

POLE SYSTEM.

Application filed October 27, 1909.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, Josnrn LEDWINKA, asubject of the Emperor of Austria-Hungary, residing at Philadelphia, inthe county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented anew and useful Pole System, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in pole systems particularlyadapted to be used in trackless trolley systems.

The objects of my invention are, first, to provide a pole system fortaking current from trackless trolley wires; second, to provide a polesystem having means to prevent damage to or tearing down the overheadconstruction should the sliding contacts jump the trolley wires; third,to provide a pole system that is flexible, whereby it will adjust itselfto the unevenness in the overhead wires and will permit of the propelledvehicle to turn out on either side of the trolley wires; and fourth, toprovide a pole sys tem that will not bridge across the trolley wires soas to form a short circuit.

Further objects will more definitely appear from the detaileddescription to follow.

The invention is clearly defined and pointed out in the claims.

A construction embodying the feature of my invention is illustrated inthe accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, in whichFigure 1. is a view in perspective of my improved pole system fortrackless trolleys. Fig. 2. is a bottom view of the head of the pole,the upper part of the spring bows and connecting saddle being removed.Fig. 3. is a side view, partly in section, of my pole system, showingone of the spring bows and saddle, taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4.is a cross-section of one of the bows.

Similar letters of reference refer to similar parts throughout theseveral views.

Referring to the drawings, the pole 1 is adapted to be secured at itslower end to the top of the car by a standard trolley base, although anyother suitable securing means may be used. The upper end of the pole isprovided with the wooden or metallic head 2 suitably formed and shapedso as to provide a seat 3 to receive the bolt 4 secured thereto by thenut 5. The pole 1 is preferably tubular to receive the two wires 6, 6,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 12,1913.

Serial No. 524,922.

which lead out from the pole near its upper end through the opening 7.The head 8 of the bolt 4 is ball-shaped and engages the ball socket inthe yoke 9. This yoke carries at each end a bushing or cap 11 preferablyformed of insulating material, the purpose of which will more clearlyappear hereinafter.

In trackless trolley systems two conducting wires are used, one tosupply current and the other to return the current to the source ofsupply. To receive current from and return it to the overhead wires 12and 13, I provide spring bows 14, 14, one end of which is secured to thebushing or cap 11. The bows are each spirally coiled near the lower endand then curve upwardly toward the overhead trolley wires, the upper endof each bow curving inwardly toward each other and secured to the saddle15. This saddle 15 is preferably made of insulating material so as toseparate and insulate from each other the shoes 16, 16, carried by thoseparts of the bows which bend inwardly toward each other. In thepreferred form of my invention these shoes are detachably secured to thespring bows 14, 14 so as to permit of their renewal when worn out, whilethe upper part of the saddle 15 is preferably made ovate so as not tocatch in the overhead construction. This saddle is adapted to passbetween the wires 12 and 18 while the shoes 16, 16 form sliding contactstherewith. The wires 6, 6 are electrically connected to the bows 14, 14by means of the split lugs 17, thereby establishing electricalconnection between the trolley wires 12 and 13 and the car motor. Thebows are covered from the lug 17 to the sliding shoe 16 with leather orother suitable insulating material so as to prevent short-circuitingshould the bow fall across the two wires.

In order that the spring bows and saddle will normally return to aposition in alinement with the pole 1, 1 provide the coiled spring 22,one end of which is secured to the yoke 9 while the other end is securedto the seat 3. This coiled spring 22 tends to keep the yoke 9 undertension and to return the yoke with the spring bows 14, 14, securedthereto, back to central position.

Means are provided to prevent the coiled construction of the bows 14,14, the yoke 9 and the bolt 4 from catching in the overheadconstruction, should the shoes 16, 16 jump the trolley wires. In thepreferred form of my invention, these means consist of thetriangular-shaped guard 18. This guard is secured at its apex 19 to thepole 1 and then curves upwardly to the coiled part of the bows 14, 1 1.The pole 1 can be drawn down toward the car by the rope 21 secured tothe pole 1 by means of the lug 21.

It is thus apparent from the foregoing description of my improved polesystem that current can be taken from the overhead wire 12 through thesliding contact formed by one of the shoes 16, the bow 1 1and'conducting wire 6 to the car motor, and the current returned throughthe other conducting wire 6, the spring bow 1 1, shoe 16, to the trolleywire 13. The saddle 15 being of insulating material will prevent anyshort circuiting between the shoes 16, 16. The ball and socket jointbetween the bolt 4L and the yoke 9 permits of the propelled vehicle toturn out on either side of the street from beneath the trolley wires,while the spring feature of the bows will always maintain the shoes 16,16 in contact with the overhead trolley wires. Should the shoes jump thetrolley wires so as to permit the pole to fly upwardly, the overheadconstruction work would strike the guard 18 and be deflected thereby tothe top of the spring bows 14, and thence by the top of the saddle 15,thereby preventing the overhead construction work from being damaged ortorn down.

I/Vhile I have shown and illustrated a pole system adapted particularlyfor use on trackless trolley systems, it is capable of being constructedfor use on trolley systems using sliding shoe contacts, withoutdeparting from the spirit of my invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a pole system, the combination of a tubular pole, conduct-ingwires carried therein, a yoke carried by said pole and angularlyadjustable thereon, a spring secured to said yoke and said pole fornormally positioning said yoke, resilient members carried by said yokeand electrically connected with said conducting wires, contacts carriedby said members to form electrical connections with the trolley wires, asaddle to insulate said contacts from each other, and a triangular guardto deflect any obstruction from the upper end of said pole.

2. In a pole system, in combination, a trolley pole, a bolt having aball-shaped head secured to the upper end of said trolley pole, a yokehaving a socket for receiving the head of said bolt, a spring engagingsaid yoke and pole for normally positioning said yoke, a pair ofresilient members secured to and insulated from said yoke, a pair ofsliding contacts carried by the outer ends of said members, an insulatedsaddle secured to the outer ends of said members between said contacts,and means for deflecting any obstruction from the upper end of saidpole.

3. In a pole system, in combination, a trolley pole, a bolt having aball-shaped head secured to the upper end of said trolley pole, a yokehaving a socket for receiving the head of said bolt, a spring engagingsaid yoke and pole for normally positioning said yoke, a pair ofresilient members secured to and insulated from said yoke, a pair ofsliding contacts carried by the outer ends of said members, an insulatedsaddle secured to the outer ends of said members between said contacts,and a triangular guard for deflecting any obstruction from the upper endof said pole.

In testimony whereof, I sign this specifi cation in the presence of twowitnesses.

JOSEPH LEDWVINKA.

IVitnesses Bnn'rrm DRYFOOS, ADoLPH S. VOTTELER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

